Operating mechanism



July 1, 1958 c. G. HARD AF SEGERSTAD 2,841,119

OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 26. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CARLGUSTAV HARD AF SEGERSTAD A ORNEY July 1, 1958 c. G. HARD AF SEGERSTAD2,841,119

OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 26, 1950 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR CARLGUSTAV HARD AF SEGERSTAD OPERATING MECHANISM Carl Gustaf Hard atSegerstad, Sandviken, Sweden Application April 26, 1950, Serial No.158,115

Claims priority, application Sweden December 12, 1949 Claims. (Cl.121-39) This invention relates to regulators.

The hitherto known regulators are all attended with a drawbackconsisting in that their range of regulation is limited, i. e., they areable to regulate only between certain maxima and minima. In factregulating devices have been proposed which are adjustable for differentregulation ranges. However, adjustment of such devices while work isgoing on is often a very troublesome operation which'might interrupt thework. Another disadvantage of the known devicesis that they haveconsiderable dimensions or weight when applied for technical purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a regulater which incontrast with the known regulating devices rules an unlimited regulationrange due to the fact that its working principle is integrative.

Another object of the invention is to provide a regulating device theconstruction of which is light and simple and accordingly convenient tohandle and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a regulating devicewhich is readily applicable on various regulative devices even underworking conditions.

According to the main feature of the invention two separately operativeand reciprocating driving means are adapted to actuate in oppositedirections the devices which are to be regulated.

According to a further feature of the invention each of the said drivingmeans has reciprocating members provided with such means for actuatingthe devices to be regulated that regulation is performed by movement inone or both of the directions of movement of each ofthe reciprocatingmembers.

The said reciprocating members can suitably be pistons of pressuremedium motors or cores disposed in magnetizable solenoids or the like.

These and further objects and features of the invention will now be morefully described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a section of a regulator according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line I-I in Fig. 1 illustrating theregulator as applied on a valve of a common type.

As will be apparent from the drawing the regulator according to theinvention comprises two driving devices, designated by 1 and 2respectively, which are active in opposite directions. In the embodimentshown the two driving devices are of identical construction. Thus, anexhaustive description of only one of them is sufficient.

The driving device 1 consists of a cylinder 3 in which United StatesPatent C) ice are by mean means of pins 12 and 13 respectively guided inslots 14 and 15 respectively formed in a member 17 fastened by screws 16to the head of the piston 5. A tension spring 18 tends to force the pins12 and 13 towards each other. The purpose of the spring 18 and the links10 and 11 is to obtain a so called snap-action of the slide.

In the position indicated in the drawing the slide 8 of the drivingdevice 1 is pressed against the plug 41. As readily will be seen,movement of the piston 5 to the left will cause the spring 18 to betensioned until the links 10 and 11 are in line. If the piston 5 ismoved further to the left the spring 18 will contract whereby the slide8 is rapidly thrown to the right (see the position of the slide memberof the driving device 2). As a result, an inlet for pressure medium isopened which through passages 43, formed in the slide 8, acts upon theleft side of the piston 5 which is thereby moved to the right. Near theend of the piston stroke the. slide 8 strikes against the flange 19causing once again the spring 18 to be tensioned and consequently arapid movement'to the left of the slide which cuts off the pressuremedium inlet 20 and opens an outlet 21. A compression spring 22 mountedon the piston rod 4 and pressing on the piston 5 serves to bring thepiston'back to the left. The working speed of the driving device is, ofcourse, depending on the pressure of the pressure medium and the area ofthe outlet opening 21.

The cylinders '3 and 23 of the driving devices are interconnected bya'body or frame 24 which in the embodi ment shown is made integral withthe cylinders and has the form of a casing inside which is arranged anoperating wheel 26 provided with'teeth or cogs along its periphery.Fastened to the piston rods 4 and 27 of the driving devices 1 and 2respectively are two plate springs 28 and 29 respectively the free endsof which are slightly curved or bent in order to engage the teeth 25.The operating wheel 26 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 30 (see Fig. 2)which in turn is mounted in a bearing 33 and a bearing ring 34 mountedin the casing 24, the shaft 30 being adjustable axially in relation tothe wheel 26. At axial movement of the shaft 30 the key 35 glides in agroove 36 formed in the said shaft 30.

Fig. 2 illustrates the regulator as applied on a valve device 37. Insuch case one end of the shaft 30 is preferably provided with a recessfor driving engagement with the end of a valve spindle 38. On the otherend of the shaft 30 may advantageously be mounted a hand wheel 42 or thelike for manual adjustment of the valve device. As will be apparent fromthe figure, a portion of the casing 24 has the form of a nut 39 thepurpose of which is to substitute the gland of the valve device 37.Instead of the nut 39 a rotatable nut connected to the casing 24 may beused. A coupling sleeve 40 may serve to secure rigid connection, asindicated in Fig. 2. Of course, any other mounting devices may be used,e. g.

. a special stand or a yoke connected to the regulator.

is glidable a piston 5 provided with a piston rod 4. The

- The function of the device described is as follows. If an adjustmentof the valve is desired which involves clockwise (in Fig. 1) turning ofthe valve'spindle 38 and the operating wheel 26 connected thereto thedriving device 1 is started by supplying it with pressure medium througha line, not shown in the drawing, which is connected to the pressuremedium inlet 20, the driving device 2 remaining inoperative. Thereby thespring 28 is caused to perform reciprocative motions. Obviously, thepower strokes (directed to the right) will turn the wheel 26 in thedesired direction. The arrangement is preferably such that the powerstroke corresponds to the pitch of the wheel 26. At the following returnstroke to the left the end of the spring, due to its form, glides overthe next tooth without causing any rotation of the wheel 26 which forthe purpose may be retained stationary by a suitable permanent brake. Atthe next power stroke the spring 28 throws said next tooth a step to theright and so on. This stepwise turning or rotating of the wheel 26 andthe regulation or. adjustment in the desired direction caused therebyis. theoretically unlimited.

If, on the other hand, an adjustment in the opposite direction isdesired, involving anticlockwise. turning of the wheels 26, the drivingdevice. 1 is rendered inactive."

operative spring 28 or 29 respectively these springs may be adapted tocooperate with pins 45 or the like. fastened to the casing 24. In thecase no regulating action being desired both driving devices areretained inactive.

The regulator can readily be adapted for remote control by the use oflong supply lines for the pressure medium the supply lines may comprisea constant pres sure regulator.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiment described and shown because many other modifications arepossible within the scope of the invention. Thus, the springs 28 and 2.9may be replaced by correspondingly working ratchets, pawls or the like.Moreover, the invention is not limited to pressure'rnedium drivingdevices, any separately operative, reciprocating driving means may beused. The sole condition is.

that the driving devices are adapted to actuate in opposite directionsthe devices which are to be regulated or controlled. Although theinvention has been shown anddescribed as mounted ona valve it is obviousthat it can be adapted to regulate arbitrary other controllable devices.

Having now described my invention, what'I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. Mechanism adapted to transmit motion between an operating memberwhich is adapted to exert a step-bystep movement and a valve memberwhich is adapted to control fluid which moves said operating member,comprising, in combination, a support, an operating member mounted toreciprocate on said support, a valve operating bar mounted to movefreely in said support and having one end positioned so as toreciprocate substantially in alignment with the reciprocating movementof said operating member and 'to thereby operate said valve member, twosymmetrically arranged links each pivoted at one end on said end of saidvalve operating bar and having their free ends-diverging, bracket meansmounted on said operating member and connected by a slidinginterengagement with said free ends of said links, and a springresiliently urging said free ends of said links toward each otherwhereby the initial movement of said operating member moves said freeends of said links apart 1 continued movement of said operating membermoves said free links beyond the straight line position and then movessaid valve operating bar in the opposite direction.

2. Mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein said links of theassociated mechanism are positioned in a chamber to which the fluidflows to move said operating member, said valve member being rigidlymounted upon said valve operating bar and reciprocating between twopositions in one of which fluid is supplied and in the other of whichfluid is exhausted.

3. Mechanism as described in claim 1 which includes, means providingstops to limit the movement of said valve member, wherein said valvemember is in axial alignment with said valve operating bar and is heldthereby against one of said stops except during the actual movement.

4. In a device of the character described, a frame construction, asquare-toothed wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a pair of operatingmembers which are mounted in alignment on said frame constructionvsubstantially tanincluding a tooth-engaging means which is withdrawn ifrom contact with said wheel when its operating member is in said restposition and which is moved into engagement with a tooth during saidmovement and causes its operating member to impart a step movement tosaid wheel during the remaining portion of said movement, and a pair ofindependent operating units connected respectively to said operatingmembers and each adapted to reciprocute its operating member with eachreciprocation cornprising said movement of said operating member fromsaid rest position and a return movement, each of said operating unitsincluding a housing having a central operating chamber and an operatingelement at least a part of which is axially movable in said chamber andwhich has its periphery in fluid-sealing engaging relationship with saidhousing and together therewith defining upon one side of said operatingelement an operating chamber into which fluid is supplied to move itsoperating member and bias means to return said operating member to saidrest position, each of said'units also including a slidable valve meansreciprocatable with a snap action between one position wherein fluid issupplied to said operating chamber and another position where said fluidis discharged therefrom, each of said operating units also includingvalve control means to. produce said snap action mechanically connectedto be moved by each movement of said operating member whereby said valveis moved as a resultof the respective movements of said operatingmember.

5. In a: device of the character described, having a frame constructionand a square-toothed wheel rotatably mounted thereon and a pair ofoperating members which are mounted in alignment on said frameconstruction substantially tangentially with respect to said wheel andeach ofwhich is adapted to move tangenitally from a rest position towardsaid wheel, said operating members being oppositely related with respectto said wheel whereby said movements are arcuately opposite, each ofsaid operating members including a tooth-engaging means which iswithmember is in said rest position and which is moved into engagementwith a tooth during said movement and causes its operating member toimpart a step movement to said wheel during the remaining portion ofsaid movement, the combination therewith of a pair of independent operating units connectedrespectively to said operating members and eachadapted to reciprocate its operating member with each reciprocationcomprising said movement of said operating member from said restposition and a return movement, each of said operating units including ahousinghaving a central chamber and. an operating element enclosedwithin said chamber at least a part of which is axially movable inv saidchamber, said operating element havingits periphery in fluid-sealingengagement with said housing and together therewith defining anoperating chamber upon one side of said operating element into whichvfluid is supplied to move its operating member, and. a spring to returnsaid operating-member to said rest position, each of said units alsoincluding a slidable valve means reciprocatable with a snap actionbetween one position wherein fluid is supplied to said operating chamberand another position where said fluid is discharged therefrom, each ofsaid operating units' also including valve control means to produce saidsnap action mechanically connected to be moved by each movement of saidoperating member whereby said valve, is moved as a resultof therespective movements of said operating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MasonSept. 17, 1867 Oliver Oct. 12, 1886 Ross Feb. 20, 1887 Hawkins NOV. 23,1909 Whitehead Oct. 21, 1913 Street Feb. 10, 1925 Hukill et a1 Aug. 10,1926 Barks Jan. 3, 1928 McNeil July 9, 1929 Garland Feb. 11, 1930 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 2,841,119 July1, 1958 Carl Gustaf Hard af Segerstad It is hereby certified that errorappears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column'2, line 1, after "by" strike" out "mean"; column 3, line 61,

forthe claim reference numeral "2""re'ad' we 1 Signed and sealed this4th day of November 1958.,

SEAL lttestz KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting OflicerCommissioner of Patents

